In 1900 in Cairo, police chief Ahmed Effendi (Arnold Moss) questions wealthy socialite Ruby Chepstow Armine (Merle Oberon), without informing her husband Nigel Armine (George Brent).

Later that afternoon, Ruby takes Nigel's best friend, Sir Meyer Isaacson (Paul Lukas), to her garden to ask for his help, and relates the events of the last three years.

Meyer interrupts a dinner between Ruby and Nigel, and exposes Ruby as a golddigger. So, Ruby decides to leave London, but her devoted maid Marie (Lenore Ulric) convinces her to try again. That same night, Ruby encounters Nigel and when he proposes, and Ruby accepts. After marrying, they move to Egypt, where Nigel is searching for the tomb of Ramses V.

Ruby is initially delighted with the exotic surroundings. One evening at a dinner party, a bored Ruby notices the distress of a young guest, Yvonne Dupont (Suzanne Cloutier). She has unwittingly gotten involved in an innocent flirtation with a young man who is now blackmailing her over letters she wrote to him. Ruby offers to intercede and upon meeting the suave Mahmoud Baroudi (Charles Korvin), quickly sees through his proclamations of sincerity, yet gets him to agree to destroy Yvonne's letters.

Ruby becomes involved with Baroudi. Soon, even the faithful Marie is disgusted by Ruby's flagrant behavior. Panicked and guiltridden, Ruby breaks with Baroudi, yet remains obsessed with the playboy.

When Nigel returns he says nothing about Ruby's distracted mood, which is exacerbated when she reads in the newspaper that Baroudi is publicly escorting American heiress Jean McCormick (Gloria Lloyd Roberts).

Ruby and begins seeing Baroudi again, but Baroudi grows restless after quickly spending all the money gambling. Baroudi observes that should Nigel suddenly meet with an abrupt end, Ruby would be wealthy.

During the unveiling ceremony for the Ramses tomb, Ruby recognizes Baroudi's servant as one of the attendants, and realizes he has poisoned Nigel's coffee, but remains silent. During the ceremony, Nigel collapses and the attending physician, Dr. Harding (Aubrey Mather), is unable to diagnose his ailment.

Ruby goes to Baroudi only to find him with another woman. Ruby protests that she cannot endure watching Nigel suffer, but Baroudi points out that while he cannot be connected with the poisoning, she can easily be implicated.

Overcome with remorse, Ruby tells Baroudi that Nigel is dead. When Baroudi orders drinks to celebrate, Ruby, realizing that Baroudi will soon want to rid himself of her, uses the poison on him and watches him die.

Back in the present, in the Villa Bella Donna garden, Ruby finishes her story, explaining that since Baroudi's death, she has lived in complete fidelity to Nigel. Meyer is uneasy with Ruby's confidences and remains skeptical of her selfproclaimed reformation.

Later that evening, Ruby writes an entire confession and privately gives it to Meyer to give to Nigel after she turns herself in to Ahmed the next day. Some days later at Ruby's funeral, Ahmed meets with Meyer to inquire about the likelihood that she died accidentally in an unexpected rockslide while taking a walk on the night of her confession. Meyer assures him that it was accidental and although he hands over Ruby's confession, he pleads for him to reveal nothing to Nigel. Ahmed agrees and returns the note, which Meyer destroys.

A 1946 American Black & White filmnoir thriller film directed by Irving Pichel, produced by Edward Small, screenplay by Robert Thoeren, based on Robert Smythe Hichens's novel "Bella Donna" (1909), cinematography by Lucien Ballard, starring Merle Oberon, George Brent, Charles Korvin, Paul Lukas, Lenore Ulric, Arnold Moss, Aubrey Mather, Ludwig Stössel, and André Charlot. Screen debut appearances of Suzanne Cloutier and Gloria Lloyd Roberts.

Photographer Robert Capa made his sole acting appearance here. On a visit to the set to see his friend Charles Korvin, Capa claimed that he could perform the role of Hamza better than could the actor who had been hired to play the part. Capa auditioned for Irving Pichel, who was convinced by Capa's accent and offered him the part

Other film adaptations of the novel were produced in 1915, 1923 and 1934.

This was Edward Small's first production after the termination of his long contract with United Artists, and the first to be filmed at Universal under the merger with International Pictures that formed the shortlived United World Pictures. Small bought the rights to the novel in 1941, intending it as a vehicle for Ilona Massey, who had appeared for him in "International Lady" (1941). He wanted to produce the film for United Artists, but other projects took priority.

This tale of infidelity, blackmail, poisonings, an Egyptian mummy's curse features a strong soundtrack, impressive set decor and one magnificent fashion creation after another. A fascination for the viewer thanks to its leading players, and a sense of lush studio style at its richest.